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Greetings to 
The Salvation Army 


“I sincerely wish Godspeed to any organization which, like 
The Salvation Army, has as its main object the betterment of 
humanity and the making of bad citizens into good ones.” 

PRESIDENT WOODROW WILSON. 

“I am thoroughly in sympathy with your work. I believe 
you reach people who are not reached in any other way. I be- 
lieve that your experience in dealing with the slums of great 
cities and your practical methods of charity are of the widest 
usefulness, and I am glad to testify to my high appreciation 
and admiration of those who are in charge of The Salvation 
Army, and the great good they have done.” 

EX-PRESIDENT WM. H. TAFT. 

“At last it has won its way to recognition and there are few 
serious thinkers nowadays who do not recognize in The Sal- 
vation Army an invaluable social asset, a force for good which 
works effectively in those dark regions where, save for this 
force, only evil is powerful.” 

EX-PRESIDENT THEODORE ROOSEVELT. 



Foreword. 


The value of fiction is determined by the ef- 
fect it produces on its readers. If it furnishes 
innocent but transitory enjoyment, it has some 
value ; if it also instructs, its value is enhanced ; 
but unless this little story gives abiding pleasure 
by inspiring a desire to be of more service to hu- 
manity, it will fail in the mission on which it is 
sent. 

THE AUTHOR. 

Austin, Minnesota, 

March 4th, 1914. 


Copyright, 1914, by 
ALFRED L. ATWOOD, 
Austin. Miuuesota. , 


MAR 16 1914 

©CI,A362912 



Tke Salvation Army Girl. 

6 JT DON’T know how to do anything/’ insist- 
I ed John Eberly. ^^To be sure I graduated 
from the university after having learned 
a little Latin, some Greek and a smattering of 
science, history and mathematics; but I didn't 
learn how to do anything. I may have to teach 
school. That is about the only thing I ever saw 
done, for I have been somebody’s pupil all my 
life. But I hate the idea of teaching. There is 
no future to it.” 

“You might do worse,” said his mother. “A 
good teacher is a respected and useful member of 
society and earns an honest living. I don’t see 
though why you did not accept Mr. Hardy’s offer 
of fifty dollars a month to clerk in his store.” 


5. 


THE SALVATION ARMY GIRL. 


‘T will dig coal before I will work for any man 
for fifty dollars a month/’ replied John, with 
some warmth. ‘Tf I am not worth more than 
that to Mr. Hardy I am not worth hiring, and I 
don't want to be an incumbrance to him." 

‘‘The trouble with most young men is that 
they hunt for a position they could not fill instead 
of looking for work," said Mrs. Eberly. “You 
will have to make your own opportunity by 
working hard at something until you do that 
thing a little better than such work is usually 
done. Then you will be advanced to more im- 
portant duties with better pay." 

“I am not going to work for nothing and 
board myself," said John. 

The conversation continued, Mrs. Eberly do- 
ing most of the talking. John never did like “to 
be lectured," as he expressed it. He was read- 
ing the Want Ads in the Tribune and about half 
listening to her advice. Like other boys he want- 
ed to make considerable money right away, and 
not wait to grow into a good position. 

Finally John said, “I think I will answer some 
of these advertisements. Somebody had to pay 
good money for every ad here and nobody would 
be likely to advertise for help unless he wants 
it." So he wrote a postal in answer to one ex- 
travagant ad that was signed E57, Tribune, wrote 
down the names and addresses of other advertis- 
ers, and by the time he was ready to go to bed 


6 . 


THE SALVATION ARMY GIRL. 


he was quite elated by the thought that he was 
sure to get a position with some of these people. 
He was tired and discouraged in the early even- 
ing, but now he was inspired with new hope. 
Blessed Hope, God’s Beacon Light, that at- 
tracts the wearied soul to new endeavor. 

The next day while John was interviewing in- 
surance men, mining stock promoters, and other 
advertisers, all of whom wanted agents on com- 
mission but not on salary, Henry Avery sat in 
his office looking at a postal card and wondering 
if the signer of it had any money that he could get 
by any kind of scheme. 

''George,” said he to a man who had just come 
in, "here is an answer to my ad in the Tribune; 
it is signed by John Eberly, whoever he may be, 
and his address is 2732 Woodland Avenue. He 
wants a position. If he has money I want it. If 
he has no money I don’t want to bother with him. 
I want you to find out for me all about him. You 
have done this thing before and know what I 
want. Remember that the information that 
seems most trivial often proves most important. 
I want to know as much about him as if I were 
his brother. I will not answer this postal until 
I get your report, so lose no time; and George, 
do you hear? The trouble with you is that you 
take a little walk down one side of the street and 
back on the other and by that time you are drunk. 
Now, none of that today. If you fail to attend 


7. 


THE SALVATION ARMY GIRL. 


to this business promptly I will fire you. Under- 
stand 

George understood and said so. He did not 
like to be talked to like a dog while doing Avery’s 
dirty work, and sometimes he secretly vowed 
to get even with his employer; but Avery kept 
him well dressed, furnished him with a living 
and some money that he spent for drink ; so this 
time, as always before, he pocketed the money 
Avery gave him, and started on his mission, lit- 
tle better than a slave. In his younger days 
George Bolton had been one of Pinkerton’s best 
detectives. He knew how to get the information 
Avery required, and generally did such work 
well, but he had become too unreliable to hold his 
old job. 

The following day Avery waited impatiently 
for George’s report concerning Eberly. At last it 
came. Avery looked it over and was highly 
pleased. Then he sent George out for more in- 
formation. As soon as he was alone again he re- 
moved the telephone receiver from its hook: 

''Give me 4143 Main, please. Hello, may I 
speak to Miss Linton, please? Miss Linton? 
This is Mr. Avery. Can you come to my office 
right away? Good bye.” 

Then Avery resumed the study of Bolton’s re- 
port. Thirty minutes later the door opened and 
Miss Agnes Linton came in. 


8 . 


THE SALVATION ARMY GIRL. 


“Hello Linnie/' said he. “You’re a jewel. 
How could I ever get along without you? Sit 
down please. This postal is the only answer I 
received to my ad in the Tribune, and it is so late 
now that I probably will not get any more. But 
this man Eberly is a good prospect, for he is only 
a boy and his mother is a widow with money.” 

“Going to sell him an interest in your business 
like you did those other fellows, or is it the gold 
mine this time?” asked Linnie. 

“I advertised under the classification 'Help 
Wanted,’ ” said the man; “so I am going to offer 
him a job at a big salary, but before he commences 
work I am going to switch and sell him and his 
mother an interest in the business.” 

“Give him a job with the mining company if 
he will buy some stock,’' suggested Linnie. “Sell- 
ing an interest in the business, when there is no 
business, is too old a gag; you can’t keep on 
working that forever.” 

“But I can work it on a boy and a widow 
easier than I can a mining scheme,” said Avery. 
“They have probably heard of mines that did not 
pan out, but they don’t know anything about the 
magnitude or value of my business. If there is 
anybody easier to work than a boy it is an un- 
sophisticated widow. I like widows almost (but 
of course not quite) as well as I like you, Linnie.” 

“You don’t like anybody,” said Linnie. “You 
just like money. Your pretended affection only 


9 . 


THE SALVATION ARMY GIRL. 


indicates how much you expect to get out of a 
person. If you like me so well you had better 
give me some more money.” 

'‘Oh, come off,” said Avery. "Now take this 
letter, please,” and he proceeded to dictate as 
follows : 

"Mr. John Eberly, Chicago. Dear sir: Your 
esteemed favor is received. In reply will say that 
the position is still open. It pays a good salary 
and offers the further inducement of possible pro- 
motion to an interest in njy business, which is 
one of the most profitable in the city. Please call 
at this office tomorrow (Thursday) afternoon at 
three o’clock. 

Thanking you for your inquiry I am 
Yours very truly,” 

Linnie wrote the letter as dictated, Avery 
signed it, and then mailed it in the chute just 
outside the office door. 

"One thing more, Linnie,” said he. "Titles 
sometimes inspire confidence. Call me 'Doctor^ 
whenever you say anything to me or about me 
hereafter, and please make the title emphatic in 
the presence of others. It will help give me pres- 
tige and business, and that is what we want.” 

"Doctor Avery, my Dear DOCTOR,” shouted 
Linnie, laughing so loudly that even he was 
somewhat abashed. "How long since? You are 
the first person I got acquainted with when I 

lO. 


THE SALVATION ARMY GIRL. 


came to the city and I met you on the 
street. So I fell in with a Doctor before I even 
found a place to stay. My, but there must be 
some class to me, Whoop-la and the girl swung 
her hands as she yelled and laughed at the same 
time. 

''Here, let up on that,” commanded the man 
with the new title. 

"But it's all too funny,” screeched Linnie, 
"and what's more you are blushing like a girl 
yourself ;” and Linnie watched the color come 
and go in the man's face and laughed until she 
cried. Avery was not pleased, but he smiled and 
then the two laughed together. Linnie managed 
to sober up enough to inquire, "but why did you 
select the title of 'Doctor?' Why not General, or 
Judge, or Reverend, or something else that means 
something? You might be mistaken for a den- 
tist, or a quack horse doctor, or for almost any- 
thing else, with that ambiguous title of 'Doc- 
tor.' ” 

"Well, you know,” answered Avery, whose 
good nature had now returned, "The Bible says 
that we should be all things to all people, and 
'Doctor' may mean M. D., or D. D., or Ph. D. ; so 
I can interpret it to suit the company I am in. 
Now don't laugh. Behave yourself!” 

"The Bible says nothing of the kind,” an- 
swered Linnie. "Shall I tell you what the Bible 
really does say that applies to you?” 


II. 


THE SALVATION ARMY GIRL. 


'‘No, don't trouble yourself. If that passage 
isn't in the Good Book it ought to be, for it is 
THE doctrine, according to my way of thinking," 
said Avery. 

"Well, then. Reverend Doc.," said the girl, 
"tell me how much you are going to pull the Eb- 
erlys for, and how much of it I get." 

Avery was surprised, for the stenographer 
had never before suggested that she be given \ 
part of the profits of any transaction, although 
she had assisted many times in questionable pro- 
ceedings. She was becoming bolder too, and he 
wondered if she thought he would not dare offend 
her because she knew so much about him. 
Any way he would humor her. 

"I hope to get a good bunch of money from 
the Eberlys," said he, "and I will give you twen- 
ty-five dollars, besides paying for your work, if 
we make this thing go." 

"All right," said Linnie. "I'll tell Eberly that 
you are a Doctor of Divinity, brother of the dis- 
ciple Judas, and that you were offered the job of 
Pope, but declined on account of your excessive 
modesty and because you desired to stay here in 
order to be useful to him." 

"Shut up! Can't you behave? This is ser- 
ious business," and Avery showed his displeas- 
ure but the girl did not seem to care. 

"I have no doubt it will be serious for young 
Eberly," said Linnie, "for you will probably peel 


12 . 


THE SALVATION ARMY GIRL. 


the enamel off his front teeth. But I will help, 
of course, in anything you ever want to do,’’ she 
said in a conciliatory tone of voice. She was sure 
she could offend him and then whistle him back 
as she might like. ‘‘You know me, Doctor, and 
know I will help ; but you must let me guy you a 
little, once in a while; it is so much fun.” She 
smiled, and he returned it, then she commenced 
again : 

“Say, my good Doctor, what is the play? I 
must know, for I am in it, and I don’t want to act 
the part of Juliet if the play is Macbeth.” 

Avery wriggled a little but decided to make a 
clean breast of the whole business. He had 
trusted her before and she had been guided by 
him. Possibly she might need to know in order 
to do what would be required of her. 

“Yes, Linnie,” said the Doctor, “I will tell 
you all about it. In order to sell the Eberlys an 
interest in my business I must first gain their 
confidence, for you know there is really nothing 
to sell. John Eberly’s father is dead. Dead men 
are our allies, because we can use their names 
and claim anything we want to in regard to them, 
and they will just sleep on without contradicting 
anything we say. I will represent myself to be 
the dearest and most confidential friend his father 
ever had. George Bolton has gotten me the en 
tire history of the Eberly family. I will gradu- 
ally tell it all over to John and his mother as hav- 


13. 


THE SALVATION ARMY GIRL. 


ing been told me by John's father. I will surprise 
and convince them. I will not only get into the 
widow's confidence, but into her pocket book as 
well." 

“Show me George's report," said Linnie, “so 
I will know about it, and not accidentally pull off 
any bone-head." 

“I don't show his reports to anybody," said 
the Doctor; “but I will trust you, Linnie. Here 
it is." He handed her the report. It read as fol- 
lows : 

“John Eberly is twenty-two years old, unmar- 
ried, lives with his widowed mother, Mrs. Eliza- 
beth Eberly, in the home owned by her at 2732 
Woodland Avenue. His father was Thomas Eb- 
erly, salesman for Fred W. Kruse (Retail Dry 
Goods, at 1 12 State Street), for whom he worked 
for twenty years, until his death by heart disease 
last February. He was six feet two, slender, 
weighed 160 lbs., had black hair and eyes ; and he 
always wore a short, black beard to conceal a red 
birth mark about one inch square on left side of 
chin. Thomas Eberly left to his widow the pres- 
ent home worth about $6,000; a $5,000 policy in 
the New York Life, which policy was eight years 
old, and the amount of same was paid in full to 
her in March ; and he also left probably $2,000 in 
personal property, all of which she received. The 
Eberlys moved to their present home from Frank- 


14. 


THE SALVATION ARMY GIRL. 


fort, Kentucky, about six months before Thomas 
commenced work for Kruse. Mrs. Eberly is 
short, has light hair and blue eyes and generally 
a bright smile. John is tall, like his father, but 
has blue eyes like his mother. He graduated 
from the University of Chicago this year, receiv- 
ing the degree of A. B. He is the only living 
child of his parents, his sister having died just a 
month before her father. Thomas had one 
brother, Edward, a carpenter, but he died in his 
home at Aurora, Illinois, about sixteen years ago. 
John was named for Senator John A. Logan, who 
died some years ago, but who was one of Thom- 
as’ best friends. Other friends now dead were 
William Whiting (a druggist) and Aaron Els- 
more (a grocer.) Thomas’ friends now living 
include the Kruse employees and many mem- 
bers of Trinity M. E. church, to which the entire 
family belonged. William H. Walton, a prom- 
inent attorney of this city, whose office is 
in the First National Bank Building, is a friend 
of the family.” 

‘Tt seems to me that some of these facts are 
as useless as your side whiskers,” said Linnie. 
'‘What do you care about his friends who are 
dead?” 

“Why, you dummy,” said Avery, “I will say 
they were mutual friends of his father and me. 
Mrs. Eberly will know they were friends of her 


15. 


THE SALVATION ARMY GIRL. 


husband. I do not dare name any living man as 
a mutual friend, because he would say he 
knew Thomas but never heard of me. But dead 
men deny nothing. You see, Linnie, a man’s use- 
fulness does not end when he dies. I like dead 
men, widows and boys, and can manage them 
almost always, particularly the dead men. I 
never have any controversy with dead men, and 
in this case the use of their names will help me 
work the widow. 

The Doctor laughed. Linnie did not even 
smile. Whether Avery’s plans were sufficiently 
atrocious to shock even this girl she did not state, 
but she busied herself by again reading Bolton’s 
report. 

‘‘This report says they are Methodists. I sup- 
pose the Reverend Doctor Avery is also a Metho- 
dist?” 

“Sure,” laughed Avery; “but I don’t dare 
claim to belong to Trinity, for they might ask 
the preacher about it. I wonder where I do be- 
long. I must decide that matter.” 

“I might volunteer to tell you where you be- 
long, if that would help any.’’ 

“No, thank you, I don’t want to overwork 
your imagination,” said he, dodging the sten- 
ographer’s wit. 

“Tell me, honest, did you ever belong to any 
church?” asked the girl. 


THE SALVATION ARMY GIRL. 


‘T came mighty near joining once/’ was the 
reply. 'T was sick and afraid I might die.” 

''Then you never did join?” persisted Linnie. 

"No, I got well just a little too soon,” an- 
swered Avery. That reminded her of a little 
couplet, so she repeated it; 

"When the Devil was sick, the Devil a monk 
would be; 

When the Devil got well, the devil a monk was 
he.” 

"I don’t know who wrote that but it must 
have been written about you after you got well,” 
said Linnie. Avery joined in the laugh which 
he had invited by telling his only religious exper- 
ience. Then he said : 

"You are getting personal again, but you are 
all right. Now, Linnie, I want you to be here 
tomorrow when Eberly comes. Act as if you 
were employed here all the time, for we must 
appear to have a prosperous business.” 

After a little further talk Linnie put on her 
hat, said "good bye,” and left the office. Then 
she opened the door again, put her head in and 
said ; 

"Say, Doctor, I have a conundrum for you.” 

"All right, what is it?” 

"If the good die young, how does it happen 
that Doctor Avery has lived to be such an OLD 
rooster?” Both laughed, then Linnie went on 


17 * 


THE SALVATION ARMY GIRL. 


her way, leaving the Doctor alone to mature his 
plans. 

“She is bright and smart,” thought Avery, 
“and has a fine education, too. You often see a 
young man with such qualities going to the dogs, 
but not so often a girl. It's really too bad.” 

The next day at three o'clock the Doctor was 
in his private office with the door shut, waiting 
for John Eberly. Agnes Linton was in the recep- 
tion room, pounding the typewriter furiously, in 
the act of writing imaginary letters to imagin- 
ary people, when the door opened. A tall young 
man entered and inquired for Mr. Avery. “Now 
in praise of the 'Doctor' I must lie like an epi- 
taph,'’ thought the stenographer. Then to the 
visitor she replied: 

“Yes, Doctor Avery is in, but very busy. Is 
this Mr. Eberly? Please be seated. The Doctor 
will be at leisure soon. He said he expected you 
at three. He imagined you were an experienced 
business man who might be just the person he 
wants. He will be surprised to see so young a 
man, but Doctor Avery prefers young men if 
they suit him in other respects. He received 
over five hundred answers to his ad, but is hold- 
ing them all up waiting to see you. You will find 
Doctor one of the finest men you ever met, and 
as straight as a string. Everybody who deals 
with him always finds everything a little better 


i8. 


THE SALVATION ARMY GIRL. 


than he represents. That is a part of his religion. 
He will do anything for his friends, and he has 
more of them than any man you ever saw. I’ve 
worked for him five years and he is the best man 
to work for that I ever knew. Excuse me,” she 
said, in her sweetest tone and giving John a cap- 
tivating smile, 'T will rap on his door and tell 
him you are waiting.” 

She rapped on Avery’s door, then quietly 
opened it, walked in, pushed it partly shut, im- 
mediately opened it again, and announced that 
the Doctor was ready. 

Eberly walked into Avery’s room and Miss 
Linton said : 

'‘Doctor, this is Mr. Eberly.” 

Avery arose, shook John’s hand, and greeted 
him cordially. After they were seated John was 
asked his age and ' questioned in regard to his 
business experience. It did not take the Doctor 
long to decide that his visitor was too young and 
inexperienced. John’s disappointment was plain- 
ly visible as he arose to go, but just as he was 
bowing himself out the Doctor said, 'T once had 
a very dear friend named Thomas Eberly. Poor 
fellow, he died last February. I wonder if you 
knew him or if he was possibly any relative of 
yours ?” 

"Thomas was my father’s name, and he died 
last February,” said John. 


19. 


THE SALVATION ARMY GIRL. 


Avery jumped from his chair and approached 
John, saying, 

'Ts your mother’s name Elizabeth, and did 
your sister die just a month before your father?” 

“Yes, you are talking of our family,” an- 
swered John. Avery rushed forward, took both 
of John’s hands in his and said with a show of 
much feeling, “Your father was the dearest 
friend I ever had. I knew him more than twen- 
ty years ago, before he commenced work for 
Fred W, Kruse. He was a good salesman too, 
but most of all he was a dear, dear friend to me. 
I should have known you by your looks. He was 
tall, about six feet two, slender, had black hair, 
and you are like him only you have your 
mother’s blue eyes instead of his black ones. 
Your father always wore a short black beard. 
He and I were just like brothers. I never saw 
your mother but once, but your father called her 
‘Elizabeth’ and I remembered it because that was 
my mother’s name. But I remember your 
mother well ; she had light hair, blue eyes and a 
bright cheerful expression that looked almost 
like a constant smile. So you are Thomas’ only 
son. I am so glad you found me. The son of my 
dearest friend is my friend too, and just as if he 
were my own boy; and he can have anything I 
can give him.” By that time Avery was embrac- 
ing John, the Doctor was crying, and the young 
man was agitated almost to tears. 


20 . 


THE SALVATION ARMY GIRL. 


“Sit down again/' said Avery. “We will 
make a deal. Tell me how you are getting 
along." 

John Eberly did not doubt for a moment that 
he was in the house of his friend, and of his 
father’s friend. Avery drew from him some facts 
that he did not already know, and told John about 
many deeds of kindness his father had done, not 
only for Avery but for many other people, all of 
which were fictitious. He brought tears to 
John’s eyes several times, and tears rolled down 
his own cheeks as he related how Thomas had 
helped the poor and unfortunate, keeping himself 
almost poor, and had kept these things secret 
except from Avery. “We had no secrets that we 
did not tell to each other; but if ever there was 
a man who went about doing good, not letting 
his right hand know what his left hand doeth, 
that he might have a crown in the hereafter in- 
stead of mortal praise on earth, that man was 
surely your dear father,’’ sobbed the irrepressible 
Doctor. 

It was six o’clock when Avery and John came 
out into the reception room, and not a word had 
been said about business. Miss Linton was still 
at the typewriter. She handed the Doctor a list 
of imaginary appointments made for him for the 
next day, saying, “They are in answer to your 
ad; I knew you and Mr. Eberly. would not want 
to be disturbed.’’ “Cut them all out,’’ said her 


21 . 


THE SALVATION ARMY GIRL. 


employer, “I have found the man I want. This 
young man is the son of Thomas Eberly. You 
knew him.’' 

‘Ts he?” asked Linnie. ‘‘Why, of course, I 
saw Mr. Thomas Eberly here very often. He and 
the Doctor seemed more infatuated with each 
other than any two girl chums:” and Linnie 
looked at John and smiled. John smiled in re- 
turn. 

“Don’t forget, John, that you are to lunch 
with me at noon tomorrow, and that I want your 
mother to be with us. I would like so much to 
see her again. Then after lunch we will get 
down to business,” said the Doctor, as his visitor 
was leaving the office. The young man promised 
to come, and said he would convey the invitation 
to his mother. John then hastened home, think- 
ing himself the most fortunate man in the city. 

Mrs. Eberly was waiting dinner when John 
arrived, and during the meal he related to her 
the events of the afternoon. She did not remem- 
ber Doctor Avery. She was certain her husband 
would not have failed in all those years to have 
talked to her about so good a friend. She could 
believe that Thomas had been good to the poor. 
It was like him to do good things ; but that Dr, 
Avery or any other person should know secrets 
of her husband’s life, good or bad, that were un- 
known to her, seemed impossible. Her curiosity 
was aroused to know more about her son’s new- 


22 . 


THE SALVATION ARMY GIRL. 


ly found friend. No, she would not accept his in- 
vitation to lunch. She was uncertain, though, 
just what to say. The Doctor had gained the 
full confidence of her son, who was now inclined 
to be displeased by her attitude. 

''You go and lunch with him tomorrow, John, 
but tell him that your mother will have to be ex- 
cused this time ; then when you come home you 
will have another chapter to rehearse and we will 
consider that,’' proposed Mrs. Eberly. 

"If you think I am just 'rehearsing chapters’ 
of a story I will not trouble by repeating any- 
thing more that he may say,” said the boy. "Pos- 
sibly you may think my part of it is fiction too, 
and that I never saw Doctor Avery, or any other 
man, but made it all up myself.” 

"John, John,” said Mrs. Eberly, "I never doubt 
you in the least. Just be reasonable. Why may 
I not doubt what any stranger says when it 
seems improbable, no matter whether he says it 
to you or to me, or to anybody else? I hope he 
is reliable, and he may be, but I don’t want to 
hurry down to the city tomorrow to be enter- 
tained by a man whom we do not know. It is 
different with you. If we finally conclude that 
he was a friend of your father, and if nothing un- 
favorable develops, we may invite him here for 
dinner some day, and I can meet him then ; but 
it is unwise to progress too rapidly in a social 
way with strangers who are not vouched for. 


23. 


THE SALVATION ARMY GIRL. 


When we learn who are his friends, or where he 
keeps his bank account, we can probably find out 
something about him.’’ 

‘T know he was a trusted friend of father,” 
said John, '‘for he told me all about our family, 
and many things that he could not otherwise 
have known. I have told them all over to you, 
and yet you doubt. His stenographer is quite 
talkative and if you need more evidence, may be 
I can learn from her in a casual way who some of 
his friends are.” 

"Do not ask her any questions,” said Mrs. 
Eberly. "If she is worthy of confidence she will 
not be confidential with you concerning her em- 
ployer or his affairs. If I were doing it I would 
ask him. If you use some diplomacy he will tell 
you who were some of his and your father’s 
mutual friends. If he gets disturbed over that 
question, or if he fails to name one or more, he 
will not help himself in my estimation.” 

"Well, I will see about it,” said John, fearing 
he might offend the Doctor, but admiring his 
mother’s wisdom. 

After dinner Mrs. Eberly and her son went to 
an entertainment down in the city and for the 
time the subject was dropped. 

A little later that evening as George Bolton 
came out of a saloon he saw Agnes Linton, in her 
one good dress, passing the door. 


24. 


THE SALVATION ARMY GIRL. 

\ '‘Hello, Linnie, where you going?” inquired 
th^ man. 

''Oh, no place, George; but say, come here a 
minute. Henry Avery offered me twenty-five 
dollars to help bleed the Eberlys. He expects to 
get their entire five thousand dollars, and I think 
he should give us each one-third of it. He could- 
n’t turn a wheel without our help. If you’ll stay 
by me we will make the old sucker divvy up 
right with us. What do you say?” 

"You bet I will,” answered George. 

"All right then,” said Linnie, "say nothing 
about it but get all the information you can. I’ll 
do the same, and when the time comes we will 
demand our share.” She smiled, swung her 
hand, said "good bye,” and continued her walk. 

"But really I like that Eberly kid, and pity 
him too,” thought Linnie. "He seems like a nice 
young man. He will need his money. I wish 
Avery had selected some other victim instead of 
the Eberlys. What if somebody had such a de- 
sign against my folks at home? What if Avery 
should try to pluck my father next? Really I do 
like that boy, and truly I pity him, for he is in 
the claws of a vulture. But who am I, to pity 
anybody?” she thought as she increased her 
speed. "Who wants my sympathy? Who cares 
anything about me? If I were to meet him on 
the street he would look the other way. If I 
were to bow he would not speak. If he has five 



25 . 


THE SALVATION ARMY GIRL. 


thousand dollars he is rich, while I am nobody. 
But I like him. Before I came here it might have 
been different. Now it can never be. I can do 
nothing but sink lower. Oh God, it is I, and not 
he, that needs pity and protection!” Just then 
she looked up and saw John and his mother 
coming. They were looking at her. John doffed 
his hat. His mother smiled. Agnes Linton 
blushed, the first time in nearly two years. She 
again quickened her steps. Near the street cor- 
ner the Salvation Army was singing : 

‘‘What can wash away my sin? 

Nothing but the blood of Jesus. 

What can make me pure within? 

Nothing but the blood of Jesus. 

She had heard that hymn before, but the 
words seemed now to be directed to her. When 
half a block past she paused for a moment while 
they sang: 

“Oh, precious is the flow 

That makes me white as snow ; 

No other fount I know, 

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.” 

Agitated, confused, with that song going 
through her mind and with tears very near the 
surface, she hurried on. She was almost running 
when she entered her room. It was a place of 
shelter, but not a home. Alone ! Away from 
home ! Away from mother ! And well she knew 
that her dear mother was grieving her life away 


26. 


THE SALVATION ARMY GIRL. 


for her wayward, runaway girl. She could re- 
turn, but she thought herself too unworthy. 
What could she do? She threw herself on the 
bed and cried aloud. How different from the 
“Linnie” she had been! Her tears are those of a 
repentant Mary Magdalene, praying that the 
Master pass her way, to pity, forgive and save. 

At noon the next day John Eberly was at 
Avery's office according to appointment. He 
explained that his mother appreciated the Doc- 
tor's invitation, but said she would have to be 
excused this time. Avery was disappointed, but 
as polite and cordial as ever. He was somewhat 
agitated too by Agnes Linton's failure to come 
to the office that morning as he had requested. 
He did not know the cause of her absence. He 
told John that she had suddenly been taken sick 
at the office, and that he had just sent her home 
in a cab. 

While the Doctor and his guest were eating 
the elaborate lunch that Avery had ordered, John 
took from his pocket a special delivery letter and 
handed it to his friend. It read as follows : 

'‘Dear Mr. Eberly : 

Beware ! Now I have warned you ! 

Your friend, 

Mamie Manson." 

"Who wrote this?" asked Avery. 


27. 


THE SALVATION ARMY GIRL. 


‘T know nothing about it except that I re- 
ceived it by mail this forenoon/’ said John. 

''Do you know anybody by the name of 
Mamie Manson?” asked the Doctor. 

"No,” said John. "It is all very obscure to 
me.” 

Avery was puzzled and worried. He won- 
dered if Agnes Linton had proven false to him and 
had written this note of warning, but he said : 

"I can explain it to you, John. A fake 
medium has sent several such notes to different 
people. She sent two to me. Then she came to 
the office one day and said a Spirit had appeared 
to her and given an important message that con- 
cerned me. If interested I could call at her home 
and she would go into a trance, verify the mes- 
sage and tell it to me. It is her way of getting 
business. She evidently sent this letter to you. 
Yes, it is the same hand writing, I am sure. She 
is a fraud. Give her no attention. I will keep 
this note and put it with the ones she sent me, if 
you do not care.” 

John was willing, so Avery put the note into 
his pocket and resumed the line of conversation 
that had been interrupted. He informed John 
that Senator John A. Logan had been a mutual 
friend of the Doctor and John's father, and that 
John was named for the Senator. He mentioned 
John’s Uncle Edward, and said that Edward 
built a house for him at Aurora about seventeen 


28. 


THE SALVATION ARMY GIRL. 


years ago. He showed that he knew the family 
history of the Eberlys, but said nothing about 
the birth mark on Thomas’ chin, and nothing 
about the $5,000 life insurance policy. His 
knowledge of these two things he carefully re- 
served for use as closing arguments to be used 
on the widow. He offered John a position at 
$150 per month, but would not want him to 
commence for a few days until the Doctor could 
buy Mr. Johnson’s interest in the business. He 
said, “Mr. Johnson is a silent partner in my busi- 
ness. He has $5,000 invested and draws out 
twice that much in profits every year. But when 
he came in with me I took an option back on his 
half in the business, for what he paid for it, said 
option to become effective when Johnson had re- 
ceived $25,000 in profits. He has now drawn 
$22,500 in profits, so I will give him $2,500 more 
right away and return his $5,000 and be rid of 
him.” 

John was highh^ elated by his good fortune. 
He went home loaded with an interesting story 
for his mother, and with a message that Doctor 
Avery would be pleased to meet her soon. 

Mrs. Eberly inclined to the belief that the 
Doctor must have known Thomas. The offer of 
$150 per month salary to John was an indication 
of friendship. She decided to let John invite him 
to dinner the following Tuesday, reasoning that 
it would do no harm anyway; and she would al- 


29. 


THE SALVATION ARMY GIRL. 


so invite Mr. and Mrs. Walton. That might be 
better than to have Avery alone with John and 
herself. Besides, Walton was a shrewd lawyer, 
and his opinion of Avery might be worth some- 
thing if she should afterwards care to ask for it. 

Avery's explanation that the note of warning 
had been sent by a clairvoyant was satisfactory 
to John, but not to Avery. He lost no time in 
taking the note to Judge Barton and asking him 
to locate the writer. Barton wanted a sample of 
Linnie's hand writing, which Avery was able to 
furnish. By careful comparison it became evi- 
dent that she wrote the note to Eberly. More- 
over, she had apparently made no effort to dis- 
guise her writing. 

Avery was furious. He had shown her 
George Bolton's report and told her his plans. 
She also knew much about some of his previous 
shady deals. He wished she were dead, and said 
so. 

‘‘Careful, careful," said Barton. “If you are 
in her power I must handle the matter for you. 
Say nothing to make her angry. Really the best 
thing you can do is to not see her. If she comes 
to your office, be as nice to her as ever, and don't 
let her know that you ever heard of that note." 

“I would not want to shoot her myself," said 
Avery, “but if she should be killed I would ask 
no questions. I thought she was trustworthy, 
and as good a friend as I have." 


30. 


THE SALVATION ARMY GIRL. 


''No such woman is trustworthy/’ answered 
the Judge; "and you were foolish to trust her, 
but she may be as good a friend as you have. 
People like you and me don’t have friends. We 
just have helpers.” 

"Accomplices, do you mean?” 

"Just call them 'helpers,’” answered Barton; 
"but always be sure they are well-paid, and satis- 
fied. You should not have talked so much to 
her ; but I will try to keep you out of trouble. 
By the way, you may leave me a little retainer, 
say twenty-five dollars.” 

Avery handed over the money. The Judge 
renewed his injunction to not do anything to 
make a bad matter worse, and Avery went out. 

The next day George Bolton appeared at 
Avery’s office. "Hello, Doc.”, said George. 

"Clear out,” shouted Avery, "you're drunk 
again.” 

"But I’ve got something to tell you; Linnie 
said you offered her $25 to help work Eberly, 
but that she thought she ought to have one-third 
of the $5,000 you're getting.” 

"Get out of here, you're drunk.” 

George started to obey the command, but 
Avery stopped him, saying, "Wait a minute, 
George ; come in here and tell me all about it.” 

George came in and sat down. "Well,'’ said 
he, sobered a little by Avery's roughness, "I may 
be drunk, but I can tell you. I was over in 


31- 


THE SALVATION ARMY GIRL. 


Pinky’s place, having a few drinks with Hank 
Abrams. Hank and I are old pals, you know. 
We’ve worked many a case together. I said to 
him, ^Hank, old boy, who are you working now?’ 
and he said, ‘You’ve hit it, George, for I’ve been 
working old man Manson over at Galesburg for 
two years, but his money is about gone and I 
need another sheep. The old man’s daughter 
Mamie ran away from home about two years 
ago, and they thought she’d come to Chicago. So 
he’s been putting up the rocks for me, and I’ve 
been hunting for her. Haven’t got any track of 
her.’ Then he showed me a picture of Mamie 
Manson, and its Linnie, but I didn’t tell him. He 
had three pictures of her, and gave me one, and 
here it is.’' Then George handed to Avery a pic- 
ture of a pretty girl, that surely resembled Lin- 
nie, only it looked younger. 

Avery phoned Judge Barton to come over at 
once. The lawyer did as requested. Before Bar- 
ton left Avery’s office he had an affidavit, signed 
by George Bolton, telling all about Linnie’s pro- 
posal for division of profits, together with some 
embellishments that the Judge added to help his 
client’s case. He also had all the facts about 
Mamie Manson, together with her photograph. 
Then he said to George, “Linnie has moved and 
we do not know where she is. I want you to 
find out and let me know.” 


32. 


THE SALVATION ARMY GIRL. 


As soon as Bolton had gone Barton looked at 
the Doctor and smiled. “What a lucky cuss I 
am/’ laughed Avery. “Now we know that 
Agnes Linton, alias Mamie Manson, not only 
wrote that warning note to Eberly, but that she 
is being hunted by a detective, and we will ex- 
pose her if she does not play fair. She will suc- 
cumb to such a threat, apologize and do anything 
I may require. I will own her now, even if she 
did play false this time. I will swear she will 
never dare do it again, and as good luck would 
have it she did no damage this time.” 

“Don't ever trust her again, or any other 
woman like her,” said the Judge. “We seem to 
be unusually lucky this time, and I can now put 
you past this trouble ; but leave it to me.” 

Tuesday evening came, and with it came 
Doctor Avery and Mr. and Mrs. Walton to dine 
at the home of Mrs. Eberly. Whether Mr. Wal- 
ton really dined depends upon the meaning of 
that word. He sat at the table with the others, 
talked, smiled and told stories, but ate nothing. 
He had eaten nothing for six days, and Mrs. 
Walton was alarmed. He did not tell her that 
he was fasting merely to test a theory. In vain 
she had tried day after day to get an explanation 
from him, but he had only said : “You are a 
Christian Scientist and believe there is no such 
thing as sickness. Then how inconsistent for 


33. 


THE SALVATION ARMY GIRL. 


you to worry because I do not eat. Although I 
make no profession, still I am a better Christian 
Scientist than you, because I do not worry.’’ 

For some reason this explanation had not 
satisfied his wife. True, she never allowed a 
physician to be called for herself or the children. 
They could not have more than a belief that they 
were sick, and Christian Science was fully able 
to cope with such ‘"belief.” Why should she 
worry? But she did. At any rate her words and 
actions caused others to have the belief that she 
worried. 

Doctor Avery was full of jokes and fun, and 
exhibited an amazing appetite. He had carefully 
read all current news and prepared himself in 
various ways to entertain. The only reference 
he made to Thomas was in saying that John’s 
father once told him a story about having a Sun- 
day School class of girls ; that they brought va- 
rious presents for a Christmas box to be sent to a 
colored girls’ school, and among their gifts were 
three curling irons. “That was not a story, it 
was a fact,” said Mrs. Eberly. Then they all 
laughed. Where did Avery get that story? One 
of the floor walkers at Kruse’s store had told it 
to George Bolton. Mrs. Eberly was secretly 
proud of her salad. She had taken the inside out 
of something, mixed it with the inside of some- 
thing else, put in some other ingredients, covered 
it all over with what looked like the inside of a 


34 . 


THE SALVATION ARMY GIRL. 


mustard plaster, and its disguise was impene- 
trable. Mrs. Walton thought it was ’’just 
grand,” partly because she did not know what it 
was. For the same reason Avery and John were 
not much interested in it. Walton looked at it 
curiously. He would have liked to have smelled 
of it. Nothing unpleasant happened though, and 
everybody was happy. 

The meal being over and the visiting ended, 
the Waltons went home. Doctor Avery lingered. 
When alone with Mrs. Eberly and John 
he became serious in his look and manner, spoke 
of Thomas as a confidential friend, and said he 
was often asked by Thomas for advice. '‘Eight 
or nine years ago he told me he had no life in- 
surance,” said Avery, "and I prevailed on him to 
take a $5,000 policy in the New York Life. I 
told him it was his duty to give you that protec- 
tion. He was glad afterwards, and often thanked 
me. He was a little sensitive about the birth- 
mark on his chin, but it was concealed by his 
beard, and I told him it was not to be regretted 
because it would identify him in case of drown- 
ing.” 

Mrs. Eberly was convinced by Avery’s talk 
that he had been a friend of Thomas, for she 
knew her husband never told to ordinary ac- 
quaintances some of the things to which Avery 
referred. She said little ; but taking all these 
things into consideration, and the fact that he 


35 . 


THE SALVATION ARMY GIRL. 


had offered John a position at $150 per month, 
she began to share to some extent John’s confi- 
dence in their newly found friend. Avery’s talk 
turned to business and became confidential. He 
told of the profits of his business, and he had a 
notion to take John in with him as a partner, let- 
ting him have the partner’s interest he was about 
to buy on the option of which he had spoken to 
John. John at once became enthusiastic. But 
Mrs. Eberly could not furnish $5,000. ''That 
will be all right,” said Avery. "You pay what 
you have and I will pay the balance for John. 
What I advance he can repay later out of the 
profits. How much could you pay now, Mrs. 
Eberly?” She thought she could not spare more 
than $2,000 just at present. "That is satisfac- 
tory. John will be my partner. I know it would 
please Thomas if he could know, and may be he 
does.” Avery drew from his pocket some 
paper and a fountain pen, moved over to the table 
and commenced to write. John was exultant. 
His mother was a little scared. Business was 
progressing more rapidly than she had antici- 
pated, but how could she help it? Avery finished 
the writing, read it aloud, quickly signed it and 
had John sign it. He also secured Mrs. Eberly’s 
signature by words and actions suggestive if not 
hypnotic. Then he maneuvered for the check, 
and got it. Nearly all the cash savings of the 
Eberly family passed into the hands of an un- 


THE SALVATION ARMY GIRL. 


worthy stranger. Was this accomplished by per- 
suasion? Not entirely. A determined and ag- 
gressive mental power had committed violence 
on a vacillating mind. She had not willed to 
sign. She just signed. 

Then the Doctor relaxed from a stern, com- 
pelling mood to a pleasant, placating disposition, 
dropped the subject of business, expressed his 
appreciation of his entertainment, complimented 
the dinner and the beauties of their home, said 
''good night’' amid kindly smiles, and departed 
for his bachelor quarters with the widow’s check 
securely stowed away in his pocket. The next 
morning he cashed the check within three min- 
utes after the bank opened, fearing that payment 
on it might be stopped. 

Mrs. Eberly slept little that night. She feared 
she had made a serious mistake. In the morning 
she and John went to the office of Attorney Wal- 
ton and told him all that had occurred. The 
lawyer was suspicious. Together they walked 
over to the Corn Exchange National Bank and 
found it was too late to stop payment on the 
check. Walton’s suspicions were increased. "We 
will go to the Doctor’s office,” said he, "and see 
what we can find out.” 

George Bolton was at Judge Barton’s office at 
nine o’clock that morning. "Linnie is at the Sal- 
vation Army barracks on Harrison Street,” he 


37. 


THE SALVATION ARMY GIRL. 


said. ‘'Last night she was shaking a tambourine 
and singing with the rest of them. I guess she 
has reformed. I didn't say a word to her, for she 
has a sharp tongue, so I gave her the go-bye. 
She stayed with other Salvationists at 417 North 
Clark Street last night, but she was back at the 
barracks by eight o'clock this morning.'’ 

The Judge gave a low whistle. Then he sat 
and thought. Not a word was spoken for several 
minutes. 

“George,'’ said he, “I am going to see her. 
You keep out of sight, but follow me back to this 
office if I come alone. If she comes with me I will 
bring her here, and in that case you go to Avery’s 
office so I can find you if I need you later." 

Judge Barton looked in at the door of the 
Salvation Army headquarters, and saw Linnie 
talking with three women and one man. She 
wore the Salvation Army bonnet, and Bolton's 
surmise was undoubtedly correct. The Judge 
was not bashful, but he hesitated. Linnie and 
her companions saw him and came to the door. 
Barton extended his hand to Linnie and said, 
“How is Miss Linton today?" Her associates 
looked surprised. 

“That is the name by which you know me," 
said vshe; “but now I am a new woman, and I 
want to be known by my true name which is 
Mamie Manson." It was now the Judge's turn 
to be surprised. He had expected to use the 


38. 


THE SALVATION ARMY GIRL. 


facts concerning her identity as a club, threaten- 
ing to divulge same unless she complied v^ith his 
demands. Not knowing what else to do he 
smiled. 

She introduced him to her friends. Then he 
asked her to walk to his office with him. She re 
fused. 

‘'Doctor Avery has been your employer for a 
long time,” said the Judge. “He wants to see 
you, and I think you should not stay away.” 

“Captain Anderson,” said she, “I want you to 
go with me to Henry Avery’s office, perhaps I 
should explain to him.” 

The Captain consented and the three went to- 
gether to Avery’s office, arriving while Avery 
was trying to satisfy Walton in the presence of 
Mrs. Eberly and John, that their deal was all 
right. The girl entered first, then the Salvation 
Army officer, followed by the Judge. She nod- 
ded to Avery, who was as pale as a ghost. 

“My name is Mamie Manson,” she said, as 
she bowed to John, “and not Miss Linton, as you 
were told when we met here before.” John 
arose, greeted her cordially and introduced his 
mother and Mr. Walton, explaining that she 
was the Doctor’s stenographer when he first 
called. 

“And your sweet smile,” she said, addressing 
Mrs. Eberly, “helped me to start in the new life. 
It brought back to me the loving smiles of my 


39. 


THE SALVATION ARMY GIRL. 


own dear mother, for whom in my loneliness I 
have cried during many a night. I went to my 
room and wrote her a letter. Then I wrote a 
warning note to your son, and signed it with my 
own name. Then I got down on my knees and 
gave my heart to Jesus.’’ '‘Praise the Lord,” 
shouted Captain Anderson. "Then,” continued 
she, "I was so full of mingled joy and excitement 
that I went to the Army and found a home 
there.” "Glory to God,” chimed in the Captain. 

"All this is very unnecessary,” objected 
Judge Barton; "I want a private talk with the 
lady.” "So do I,” said Walton. Avery picked up 
his hat and made a rush for the door. John and 
Walton stopped him. Barton tried to help 
Avery. The Captain and the girl grabbed Bar- 
ton, while Mrs. Eberly was too badly frightened 
to do anything. Everybody talked at once ex- 
cept Walton, so their conversation cannot easily 
be recorded. Avery’s voice could be heard above 
the others, but it might corrupt the morals of the 
printer to set his words in type. 

Half an hour later, after things had quieted 
down, George Bolton came in, "Come here, 
George,” said Mamie. "Speak a piece. Tell 
about your report to Avery, giving him the en- 
tire history of the Eberly family.” "To hell,” 
answered George, as he quickly turned to make 
a hasty exit. "Sure, you’re on that road.” shout- 
ed the Salvation Army girl. Mr. Walton laughed 


40. 


THE SALVATION ARMY GIRL. 


out loud. He was usually the personification of 
dignity. 

Soon after Bolton had gone the door opened 
again, and this time a large, well built stranger 
entered. Mrs. Eberly and John were putting in- 
to her purse and into his pockets several rolls of 
bills, the money Avery had obtained when he 
cashed her check that morning. The man in- 
quired for Henry Avery. Then stepping forward 
he said to the Doctor, ‘T have a warrant for your 
arrest.’’ 

''Let me see it,” said Barton. 

"You are too late. It’s all over and the 
money has been restored,” said Mamie. 

"I don’t know to what you refer,” said the 
man, "but I am from the United States Mar- 
shal’s office, and he is charged with fraudulent 
use of the mails.” 

"But he has paid back all the money to Mrs. 
Eberly. There she is and she will tell you so. 
We should be merciful as well as just,” persisted 
Mamie. 

"Mrs. Eberly is not concerned in this matter,” 
said the Deputy Marshal. "He is accused of 
having defrauded several other people.” 

As Barton and his client were leaving with 
the officer, two Post Office Inspectors entered 
and at once proceeded to put the office files in 
piles, preparatory to removing them to the Gov- 
ernment Building. 


41. 


THE SALVATION ARMY GIRL. 


Walton steered the Eberlys and the Salva- 
tionists out of the office and down to the street. 
Not a word was spoken. They felt as if they had 
witnessed a tragedy, but not of the innocent. 
When out of the building Captain Anderson in- 
vited the others to come to the meeting at the 
hall that evening. '‘Miss Manson will speak,” 
he said. 

'T may be there,” answered Walton. 

They all said "good bye,” the army officer 
added his "God bless you,” and the party separ- 
ated. 

"She seems to be an exceptionally bright wo- 
man,” said Walton to Mrs. Eberly and John, as 
they were walking back to the bank to re-deposit 
the money. "I had intended to go to a show to- 
night, but I may go and hear her instead.” Wal- 
ton was not much of a churchman; but he was 
an investigator of creeds and theories, as well as 
a law practitioner in the higher courts. He knew 
little about the Salvation Army, but now his 
curiosity was aroused. When he entered the 
hall that evening he was late. Mamie Manson 
was saying: 

"We find no fault with the churches. God 
bless them all. In some things their way is not 
our way, but many good people work with them 
who might not work with us. Christians differ. 
Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, Congrega- 


42. 


THE SALVATION ARMY GIRL. 


tionalists, Episcopalians, Lutherans, Adventists, 
and a score of others, work independently of one 
another. Each has its critics and its defenders. 
''Then may we not defend and laud the Salvation 
Army by just comparison? 

"Church doors open two or three times a 
week to penitent sinners who journey thence to 
seek salvation ; while seven days in the week the 
Army goes where the sinner is. Once each year 
the church holds a business meeting to decide, 
after careful deliberation, whether revival meet- 
ings shall be held for a few weeks, and if so, 
whether an evangelist shall be imported for the 
occasion. When the decision is in the affirma- 
tive it is generally thought necessary to hold a 
few preparatory meetings first. The Salvation 
Army holds revival meetings 365 times a year. 
If the church had one-half the Salvation Army’s 
zeal for souls, the Devil would soon get off from 
the earth. Perhaps we could not raise money by 
holding a 'Pink Tea,’ but all our financial needs 
would be cheerfully met by good people if they 
could know the effect on the over-burdened soul 
when the Army on the street corner sings: 

'What can wash away my sin? 

Nothing but the blood of Jesus. 

What can make me pure within? 

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.’ 

"Some wandering girl may be passing, to 
whom it brings salvation. Would not all good 


43 - 


THE SALVATION ARMY GIRL. 


people like to contribute or have some part in 
getting such conversions? 

“They say our meetings are spectacular, and 
all for show. If that were true we would not 
furnish the only show. No fashionably dressed 
ushers, in the act of taking up a collection, march 
and countermarch with majestic tread through 
the aisles of our hall, finally standing with bowed 
heads at the altar, while in a bewildering two 
ring performance the minister and the pipe organ 
operate at the same time; the music drowning 
the thanksgiving prayer, and the spoken words 
spoiling the music. 

“Through the agency of the Salvation Army, 
God converts drunkards to lives of soberness and 
industry, rescues fallen girls and restores them 
to worthy womanhood, cares for destitute chil- 
dren and aids them towards wholesome and hap- 
py lives, reforms criminals and helps them to be- 
come upright citizens, does effective work in 
prisons and hospitals, provides shelter for the 
homeless and destitute, finds employment for the 
unemployed, works in cities all over the world 
and in the dark regions where sin and crime 
abound ; and all the time continues to say, ‘Come 
unto me, all ye that labor and are of heavy bur- 
den, and I will give you rest.’ 

“The Salvation Army led in the fight for wo- 
man’s emancipation. At a time when no woman 
was permitted to even testify in church, our 


44 - 


THE SALVATION ARMY GIRL. 


Army’s Mother Booth stood on a street corner 
in London and told the jeering mob of an even 
greater and more beautiful city, wherein the King 
of Glory dwells. She said to women : 

‘On earth not only work and pray, 

But point to heaven, and lead the way.’ 
Then to the timid sister we hear her saying: 

‘He will give you faith and skill, 

Speak, yea preach, whoever will !’ 

“The name of Mother Booth will some day 
adorn a tablet in a Temple of Fame. Will you 
help the Army continue her work for equality 
and justice? 

“The Army needs money not only for current 
expenses, but for Training College Buildings, 
Rescue Work, Industrial Homes, Poor Men’s 
Hotels, Emergency Relief Work, Prison Work, 
Maternity Hospitals, and Day Nurseries. 

“Rich men are beginning to remember the 
Army in their wills ; and the number of such is 
sure to increase as soon as our work is known, 
because our funds are carefully administered and 
in no other charity does the same amount of 
money, be it large or small, do as much good. 

“No diamonds are on our fingers, but the 
Pearl of Great Price is in our hearts. No flowers 
are banked on our platform, but the Rose of 
Sharon and the Lily of the Valley ornament 
every life. No expensive chandelier of electric 
lights illuminates a gorgeous display of millinery 


45. 


THE SALVATION ARMY GIRL. 


in rented pews in our hall ; but the Infinite 
One, the Morning Star, the Day Star, the 
Sun of Righteousness, shines for us, enabling 
us to look into the invisible and see our 
mansions not made by hands, eternal in 
the heavens. I am glad that fewer churches than 
formerly now rent their pews. The church is an 
educator, and education is helpful. The Salva- 
tion Army is a converter of men and women to 
the Christian Faith, and conversion is most 
needful. We employ no high salaried ministers, 
but the Great Teacher shows us the Way, the 
Life and the Truth. He tells us to go out into 
the highways and down into the dark valleys, to 
lift up His erring children and say to each and 
every one, 'My Father's house has in it a beauti- 
ful place prepared for you.' It may be that life's 
burdens are heavy, that the road seems almost 
too steep to climb, that you are roaming alone in 
the wilderness, hungry, foot-sore, weary ; but the 
Captain of our Salvation says to you, 'Be of good 
cheer, the Son of Man is able to save. Turn 
from wickedness unto righteousness; get under 
the shelter of the Tree of Life and behold the 
brightness of the Father's glory. Eat of the 
Fruit of the Tree of Life and drink of the Living 
Water. Put on the wedding garment, which 
means the spirit of the Master. He will be your 
Shield, your Sure Defense, your Help in every 
time of trouble. Drink from the Fountain of 


46. 


THE SALVATION ARMY GIRL. 


Life. Partake of the Bread of Eternal Life. He 
is your Hope. He will be your Deliverer.’ 

'‘We are told that the morning stars sang to- 
gether at the time of our Savior’s birth. Are 
you able to hear them now? I believe it was Ad- 
dison who so beautifully wrote : 

'Soon as the evening shades prevail 
The Moon takes up the wondrous tale, 

And nightly to the listening Earth 
Repeats the story of her birth; 

And all the stars that ’round her burn, 

And all the planets as they turn. 

Confirm the tidings as they roll 

And spread the news from pole to pole. 

Forever singing as they shine, 

'The Hand that made us is Divine.’ 

"Have your heart and mind and soul attuned 
to God’s music ! Put yourself into harmony with 
the universe ! Only man is perverse ! See a vis- 
ion of the blessedness of service ! Jesus said that 
he who would be greatest must serve the rest. 
That doctrine, Service, is the key note of the Sal- 
vation Army. 

"Some one has said: 

'The work of the world is done by few; 

God asks that a part be done by you.’ 

"What is your response?” 

At that moment Mamie saw a sweet faced, 
elderly woman, accompanied by two men. enter 
the hall. 


47 * 


THE SALVATION ARMY GIRL. 


‘‘There comes my dear mother,” shouted the 
Salvation Army girl as she ran to the loving em- 
brace. Captain Anderson sang, “Shall there be 
any stars in my crown?” George Bolton had 
been standing just outside the door all the even- 
ing. He thought he heard, in invitation song 
from the other world, the voices of his wife and 
daughter. Who will say that he did not? He 
rushed into the room, up to the front, and fell on 
his knees. “Glory to God,” shouted the enthus- 
iastic Captain. The tambourine was passed 
around and when the money was counted the 
piece of white paper among the silver and nick- 
els was found to be a check for fifty dollars, 
signed by William H. Walton. Late that night, 
with George Bolton joining in the chorus, the 
Army sang the familiar song: 

“Let us labor for the Master from the dawn 'til 
setting sun ; 

Let us talk of all his wondrous love and care ; 
Then when all of life is over and our work on 
earth is done. 

And the roll is called up yonder, we’ll be there.” 


48. 


PRESS OF 

F. H. MC’CUL-LOCH PRINTING ® 
AUSTIN. MINN. 







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